Creating modern hardy hybrid daylillies...
especially for gardens in northern zones!

Daylily: Chocolate on My Pillow

Hybridizer:	P. Owen
Year of Intro:	2012
Ploidy:	Tetraploid
Bloom Size:	6.00 in.
Scape Height:	27.00 in.
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Description:

YES... Brown IS beautiful!!!! Not only that... but it's VERY unusual in daylilies, and in fact, the perennial world in general. It was when speaking in England this past May for the BHHS/RHS that I got the fantastic opportunity (and life-long dream!) of visiting some of the most beautiful gardens in the world, when I ran across one that was themed in a combination of brown/yellow/red... and was nothing short of breathlessly gorgeous! I have always been rather mystified by brown flowers, and in daylilies, the sheer lack of very many to obtain.

Studying brown in daylilies has been a hoot... and in a personal conclusion, it seems the color manifests only when a perfect balance of the colors of orange and red intertwine enough to emit such a color to our eye. This very round and ruffled flower opens with this precise balance, emphasized beautifully by being a reverse bi-tone (sepals darker). As the day intensifies (as shown in additional photo), the red aspect becomes a bit "louder"... so while the "perfect brown" may indeed still be somewhat ellusive, I feel this particular cultivar is a GREAT start to sending us down a very creative path! Tenacious, well structured, and certainly a conversation piece... I believe one just can't go wrong with it, especially when placed near other orange and yellow flowers.

When in England, staying at their famed B&B's was a real treat! Formal, yet very comfy indeed. One thing many of the innkeepers did, was to put a chocolate on my pillow each evening... something that I really appreciated! The eye on this flower amidst such form certainly reminded me of that fun experience, and since it was England that brought my interest in brown to the forefront... it all makes sense! Well... at least in my "slightly different world", anyway! ;-)

Proving to be a great parent for performance already too... as with FUN De MENTAL (Owen. '13), and MY OFFER STANDS (Owen, '14)!

Please Note: This plant is not as cold tolerant as my plants are noted to be... best to provide winter mulch for zone 5 or lower.